Major Armstrong was over Minneapolis when he encountered trouble with the F9F4 fighter jet he was flying. The flight path back to the airport took him real close to the VA hospital. It is believed that he chose not to parachute out knowing that the fighter jet would hit many homes or the hospital causing the loss of many lives and it would of been much worse then it was. He crashed one block short of the runway and was killed in the crash and six others on the ground were also killed.
(INFO by: Steve Edquist)
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A navy jet plane crashed into a house and set fire to five others at the north edge of Wold-Chamberlain field (Mpls/St. Paul International Airport) at 9:30 a.m. today, killing at least six persons and injuring nine others.
The plane left a military formation to make an emergency landing and hit the street in front of 5804 and 5808 Forty-Sixth avenue S., near the main gate of the navy base.
The plane then bounced into the home of Donald and Jane Garles, 5820 Forty-sixth, and shattered with a terrific explosion and flash which scattered the plane and its fuel over the neighborhood.
Some 20 or more children were at play in that block when the plane crashed. Some of them were littered with debris and flaming fuel.
Five of them, taken to Veterans hospital, were reported in "very critical" condition with burns. One other child was taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
Two were taken to General hospital and three to the navy infirmary at the airport.
The pilot of the plane, Major George Armstrong was killed. The second body identified was that of Debora De Wolfe, 7, 5816 Forty-sixth avenue S.
The child's body was found on a couch in her home. Alongside the couch was the landing gear of the plane.
The other dead were not identified immediately.
Glen Gould, chief of the veterans administration fire department, said six bodies had been recovered.
Published in the Star Tribune in June, 1956.
Military Information: MAJ, US MARINE CORPS
(INFO by: Steve Edquist)
***************************
A navy jet plane crashed into a house and set fire to five others at the north edge of Wold-Chamberlain field (Mpls/St. Paul International Airport) at 9:30 a.m. today, killing at least six persons and injuring nine others.
The plane left a military formation to make an emergency landing and hit the street in front of 5804 and 5808 Forty-Sixth avenue S., near the main gate of the navy base.
The plane then bounced into the home of Donald and Jane Garles, 5820 Forty-sixth, and shattered with a terrific explosion and flash which scattered the plane and its fuel over the neighborhood.
Some 20 or more children were at play in that block when the plane crashed. Some of them were littered with debris and flaming fuel.
Five of them, taken to Veterans hospital, were reported in "very critical" condition with burns. One other child was taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
Two were taken to General hospital and three to the navy infirmary at the airport.
The pilot of the plane, Major George Armstrong was killed. The second body identified was that of Debora De Wolfe, 7, 5816 Forty-sixth avenue S.
The child's body was found on a couch in her home. Alongside the couch was the landing gear of the plane.
The other dead were not identified immediately.
Glen Gould, chief of the veterans administration fire department, said six bodies had been recovered.
Published in the Star Tribune in June, 1956.
Military Information: MAJ, US MARINE CORPS
Major Armstrong was over Minneapolis when he encountered trouble with the F9F4 fighter jet he was flying. The flight path back to the airport took him real close to the VA hospital. It is believed that he chose not to parachute out knowing that the fighter jet would hit many homes or the hospital causing the loss of many lives and it would of been much worse then it was. He crashed one block short of the runway and was killed in the crash and six others on the ground were also killed.
(INFO by: Steve Edquist)
***************************
A navy jet plane crashed into a house and set fire to five others at the north edge of Wold-Chamberlain field (Mpls/St. Paul International Airport) at 9:30 a.m. today, killing at least six persons and injuring nine others.
The plane left a military formation to make an emergency landing and hit the street in front of 5804 and 5808 Forty-Sixth avenue S., near the main gate of the navy base.
The plane then bounced into the home of Donald and Jane Garles, 5820 Forty-sixth, and shattered with a terrific explosion and flash which scattered the plane and its fuel over the neighborhood.
Some 20 or more children were at play in that block when the plane crashed. Some of them were littered with debris and flaming fuel.
Five of them, taken to Veterans hospital, were reported in "very critical" condition with burns. One other child was taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
Two were taken to General hospital and three to the navy infirmary at the airport.
The pilot of the plane, Major George Armstrong was killed. The second body identified was that of Debora De Wolfe, 7, 5816 Forty-sixth avenue S.
The child's body was found on a couch in her home. Alongside the couch was the landing gear of the plane.
The other dead were not identified immediately.
Glen Gould, chief of the veterans administration fire department, said six bodies had been recovered.
Published in the Star Tribune in June, 1956.
Military Information: MAJ, US MARINE CORPS
(INFO by: Steve Edquist)
***************************
A navy jet plane crashed into a house and set fire to five others at the north edge of Wold-Chamberlain field (Mpls/St. Paul International Airport) at 9:30 a.m. today, killing at least six persons and injuring nine others.
The plane left a military formation to make an emergency landing and hit the street in front of 5804 and 5808 Forty-Sixth avenue S., near the main gate of the navy base.
The plane then bounced into the home of Donald and Jane Garles, 5820 Forty-sixth, and shattered with a terrific explosion and flash which scattered the plane and its fuel over the neighborhood.
Some 20 or more children were at play in that block when the plane crashed. Some of them were littered with debris and flaming fuel.
Five of them, taken to Veterans hospital, were reported in "very critical" condition with burns. One other child was taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
Two were taken to General hospital and three to the navy infirmary at the airport.
The pilot of the plane, Major George Armstrong was killed. The second body identified was that of Debora De Wolfe, 7, 5816 Forty-sixth avenue S.
The child's body was found on a couch in her home. Alongside the couch was the landing gear of the plane.
The other dead were not identified immediately.
Glen Gould, chief of the veterans administration fire department, said six bodies had been recovered.
Published in the Star Tribune in June, 1956.
Military Information: MAJ, US MARINE CORPS
